DNA sequences encoding novel cadherins, desginated cadherins-4 through -12, are disclosed along with methods and materials for the recombinant production of the same. Antibody substances specific for the novel cadherins and cadherin peptides are disclosed as useful for modulating the natural binding...http://www.google.com/patents/US5646250?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5646250 - Cadherin polypeptides

DNA sequences encoding novel cadherins, desginated cadherins-4 through -12, are disclosed along with methods and materials for the recombinant production of the same. Antibody substances specific for the novel cadherins and cadherin peptides are disclosed as useful for modulating the natural binding and/or regulatory activities of the cadherins.

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What is claimed is:

1. A purified and isolated full length human cadherin polypeptide selected from the group consisting of the cadherin-5 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 50, the cadherin-8 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 54, the cadherin-11 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 58, the cadherin-12 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 60, and the cadherin-13 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 62.

2. A purified and isolated rat cadherin-8 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of the cadherin of SEQ ID NO: 42 and the cadherin of SEQ ID NO: 44.

3. A purified and isolated rat cadherin polypeptide selected from the group consisting of, the cadherin-5 of SEQ ID NO: 12 or SEQ ID NO: 30, the cadherin-11 of SEQ ID NO: 24 or SEQ ID NO: 40, and the cadherin-13 of SEQ ID NO: 26.

Description

This invention was made with government support under grant No. 5 R01 HL45335-04 awarded by the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and grant No. 7 R01 CA42571 awarded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

This is a Rule 62 file wrapper continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/049,460, filed Apr. 19, 1993, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/872,643, filed Apr. 17, 1992, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to materials and methods relevant to cell-cell adhesion. More particularly, the invention relates to novel Ca2+ -dependent cell adhesion proteins, referred to as cadherins, and to polynucleotide sequences encoding the cadherins. The invention also relates to methods for inhibiting binding of the cadherins to their natural ligands/antiligands.

BACKGROUND

In vivo, cell-cell adhesion plays an important role in a wide range of events including morphogenesis and organ formation, leukocyte extravasion, tumor metastasis and invasion, and the formation of cell junctions. Additionally, cell-cell adhesion is crucial for the maintenance of tissue integrity, e.g., of the intestinal epithelial barrier, of the blood brain barrier and of cardiac muscle.

Intercellular adhesion is mediated by specific cell adhesion molecules. Cell adhesion molecules have been classified into at least three superfamilies including the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily, the integrin superfamily and the cadherin superfamily. All cell types that form solid tissues express some members of the cadherin superfamily suggesting that cadherins are involved in selective adhesion of most cell types.

Cadherins have been generally described as glycosylated integral membrane proteins that have an N-terminal extracellular domain that determines binding specificity (the N-terminal 113 amino acids appear to be directly involved in binding), a hydrophobic membrane-spanning domain and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain (highly conserved among the members of the superfamily) that interacts with the cytoskeleton through eatenins and other cytoskeleton-associated proteins. Some cadherins lack a cytoplasmic domain, however, and appear to function in cell-cell adhesion by a different mechanism than cadherins that do have a cytoplasmic domain. The cytoplasmic domain is required for the binding function of the extracellular domain in cadherins that do have a cytoplasmic domain. Binding between members of the cadherin family expressed on different cells is mainly homophilic (i.e., a member of the cadherin family binds to cadherins of its own or a closely related subclass) and Ca2+ -dependent. For recent reviews on cadherins, see Takeichi, Annu. Rev. Biochem., 59:237-252 (1990) and Takeichi, Science, 251, 1451-1455 (1991).

The first cadherins to be described (E-cadherin in mouse epithelial cells, L-CAM in avian liver, uvomorulin in the mouse blastocyst, and CAM 120/80 in human epithelial cells) were identified by their involvment in Ca2+- dependent cell adhesion and by their unique immunological characteristics and tissue localization. With the later immunological identification of N-cadherin, which was found to have a different tissue distribution from E-cadherin, it became apparent that a new family of Ca2+ -dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules had been discovered.

The molecular cloning of the genes encoding mouse E- [see Nagafuchi et al., Nature, 329: 341-343 (1987)], chicken N-[Hatta et al., J. Cell Biol., 106: 873-881 (1988)], and mouse P-[Nose et al., EMBO J. 6: 3655-3661 (1987)] cadherins provided structural evidence that the cadherins comprised a family of cell adhesion molecules. Cloning of chicken L-CAM [Gallin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84: 2808-2812 (1987)] and mouse uvomorulin [Ringwald et al., EMBO J., 6: 3647-3653 (1987)] revealed that they were identical to E-cadherin. Comparisons of the amino acid sequences of E-, N-, and P-cadherins showed a level of amino acid similarity of about 45%-58% among the three subclasses. Liaw et al., EMBO J., 9: 2701-2708 (1990) describes the use of PCR with degenerate oligonucleotides based on one conserved region of E-, N- and P-cadherins to isolate N- and P-cadherin from a bovine microvascular endothelial cell cDNA. The Liaw et al., supra, results implied that there were only E-, N-, and P-cadherins because no new cadherins were identified. Also in 1990, it was reported in Heimark et al., J. Cell Biol., 110: 1745-1756 (1990) that an antibody generated to bovine aortic endothelial cells recognized an intercellular junctional molecule designated V-cadherin which had a similar molecular weight to known cadherins and was able to inhibit Ca2+ -dependent cell endothelial cell adhesion. The article did not disclose any sequence information for the protein recognized by the antibody.

The determination of the tissue expression of the various cadherins reveals that each subclass of cadherins has a unique tissue distribution pattern. For example, E-cadherin is found in epithelial tissues while N-cadherin is found in nonepithelial tissues such as neural and muscle tissue. The unique expression pattern of the different cadherins is particularly significant when the role each subclass of cadherins may play in vivo in normal events (e.g., the maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier) and in abnormal events (e.g., tumor metastatis or inflammation) is considered. Supression of cadherin function has been implicated in the progression of various cancers. See Shimoyama et al., Cancer Res., 52: 5770-5774 (1992). Different subclasses or combinations of subclasses of cadherins are likely to be responsible for different cell-cell adhesion events in which therapeutic detection and/or intervention may be desirable. Studies have also suggested that cadherins may have some regulatory activity in addition to adhesive activity. Matsunaga et al., Nature, 334, 62-64 (1988) reports that N-cadherin has neurite outgrowth promoting activity and Mahoney et al., Cell, 67, 853-868 (1991) reports that the Drosophila fat tumor supressor gene, another member of the cadherin superfamily, appear to regulate cell growth. Expression of the cytoplasmic domain of N-cadherin without its extracellular domain has been shown in Kintner et al., Cell, 69: 229-236 (1992) to disrupt embryonic cell adhesion and in Fugimori et al., Mol. Biol. Cell, 4: 37-47 (1993) to disrupt epithial cell adhesion. Thus, therapeutic intervention in the regulatory activities of cadherins expressed in specific tissues may also be desirable.

There thus continues to exist a need in the art for the identification and characterization of additional cadherins participating in cell-cell adhesion and/or regulatory events. Moreover, to the extent that cadherins might form the basis for the development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, it is essential that the genes encoding the proteins be cloned. Information about the DNA sequences and amino acid sequences encoding the cadherins would provide for the large scale production of the proteins and for the identification of the cells/tissues naturally producing the proteins, and would permit the preparation of antibody substances or other novel binding molecules specifically reactive with the cadherins that may be useful in modulating the natural ligand/antiligand binding reactions in which the cadherins are involved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides materials and methods that are relevant to cell-cell adhesion. In one of its aspects, the present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotide sequences (e.g., DNA and RNA, both sense and antisense strands) encoding novel cadherins, cadherin-4 through -12. Preferred polynucleotide sequences of the invention include genomic and cDNA sequences as well as wholly or partially synthesized DNA sequences, and biological replicas thereof (i.e., copies of purified and isolated DNA sequences made in vivo or in vitro using biological reagents). Biologically active vectors comprising the polynucleotide sequences are also contemplated.

The scientific value of the information contributed through the disclosures of the DNA and amino acid sequences of the present invention is manifest. For example, knowledge of the sequence of a cDNA encoding a cadherin makes possible the isolation by DNA/DNA hybridization of genomic DNA sequences that encode the protein and that specify cadherin-specific expression regulating sequences such as promoters, enhancers and the like. DNA/DNA hybridization procedures utilizing the DNA sequences of the present invention also allow the isolation of DNAs encoding heterologous species proteins homologous to the rat and human cadherins specifically illustrated herein.

According to another aspect of the invention, host cells, especially eucaryotic and procaryotic cells, are stably transformed or transfected with the polynucleotide sequences of the invention in a manner allowing the expression of cadherin polypeptides in the cells. Host cells expressing cadherin polypeptide products, when grown in a suitable culture medium, are particularly useful for the large scale production of cadherin polypeptides, fragments and variants; thereby enabling the isolation of the desired polypeptide products from the cells or from the medium in which the cells are grown.

The novel cadherin proteins, fragments and variants of the invention may be obtained as isolates from natural tissue sources, but are preferably produced by recombinant procedures involving the host cells of the invention. The products may be obtained in fully or partially glycosylated, partially or wholly de-glycosylated or non-glycosylated forms, depending on the host cell selected or recombinant production and/or post-isolation processing.

Cadherin variants according to the invention may comprise polypeptide analogs wherein one or more of the specified (i.e., naturally encoded) amino acids is deleted or replaced or wherein one or more nonspecified amino acids are added: (1) without loss, and preferably with enhancement, of one or more of the biological activities or immunological characteristics specific for a cadherin; or (2) with specific disablement of a particular ligand/antiligand binding function of a cadherin.

Also contemplated by the present invention are antibody substances [e.g., monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, chimeric and humanized antibodies, and antibody domains including Fab, Fab' and F(ab')2, single chain antibodies, and Fv or single variable domains] and other binding proteins or peptides specifically react with cadherins of the invention. Antibody substances can be developed using isolated natural, recombinant or synthetic cadherin polypeptide products or host cells expressing such products on their surfaces. The antibody substances may be utilized for purifying polypeptides of the invention, for determining the tissue expression of the polypeptides and as antagonists of the ligand/antiligand binding activities of the cadherins. Specifically illustrating antibody substances of the invention are the monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridomas designated 30Q8A, 30Q4H, 45A5G, 30S2F and 45C6A which were all deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 on Apr. 6, 1993 and were respectively assigned ATCC Deposit Nos. HB11316, HB11317, HB11318, HB11319 and HB11320. Also illustrating antibody substances of the invention is the monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma designated 30T11G which was deposited with the ATCC on Apr. 8, 1993 and was assigned ATCC Deposit No. HB11324.

The DNA and amino acid sequence information provided by the present invention makes possible the systematic analysis of the structure and function of the cadherins described herein and definition of those molecules with which the cadherins will interact on extracellular and intracellular levels. The idiotypes of anti-cadherin monoclonal antibodies of the invention are representative of such molecules and may mimic natural binding proteins (peptides and polypeptides) through which the intercellular and intracellular activities of cadherins are modulated. Alternately, they may represent new classes of modulators of cadherin activities. Anti-idiotypic antibodies, in turn, may represent new classes of biologically active cadherin equivalents.

Methods for modulating cadherin activity may involve contacting a cadherin with an antibody (or antibody fragment), another polypeptide or peptide ligand (including peptides derived from cadherins or other proteins, or a novel peptide), or a small molecule ligand that specifically binds to a portion (extracellular or cytoplasmic) of the cadherin.

Numerous aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof, reference being made to the drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a bar graph illustrating the binding of plymorphonuclear neutrophils and T cells to fusion proteins comprising extracellular subdomains of cadherin-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples wherein Example 1 describes the isolation of cDNA sequences encoding rat cadherins-4 through -11 and -13; Example 2 describes the isolation of cDNA sequences encoding the human homologs of rat cadherins-4, -5, -6, -8, -10, -11 and -13 and the isolation of a human cadherin not identified in rat, cadherin-12; Example 3 characterizes the relationship of cadherins of the invention to previously identified cadherins in terms of amino acid sequence and structure. The generation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for cadherins of the invention is described in Example 4. Example 5 describes the construction of expression constructs comprising cadherin-4, -5 and -8 sequences, transfection of mammalian cells with the constructs and results of cell-cell adhesion assays performed with the transfected cells. Example 6 presents the results of assays for cadherin mRNA and protein expression in various mammalian tissues, cells and cell lines. The results of in vitro transendothelial migration assays involving cadherin-5 and assays of neutrophil and T-cell binding to cadherin-5 fusion protein are described in Example 7. Example 8 describes expression of cadherin-5 in the blood-brain barrier and Example 9 describes cadherin-5 peptides that are capable of increasing endothelim permeability. Example 10 describes the association of the cytoplasmic domain of cadherin-5 with plakoglobin. The disclosures of Suzuki et al., Cell Regulation, supra; Suzuki et al., J. Cell. Biol., 115, Abstract 72a (1991); Suzuki et al., Cell. Struc. Funct., 16, 605 (1991); and Tanihara et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 32, 1013 (1991) are incorporated by reference herein for purposes of illustrating the background of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Partial cDNA clones encoding nine novel cadherins were isolated from rat brain and retina by PCR. Eight of the novel rat cadherin cDNAs were isolated using degenerate PCR primers based on highly conserved regions of the cytoplasmic domain of known cadherins and one was isolated using degenerate PCR primers based on moderately conserved regions of the extracellular domain of known cadherins.

A first pair of degenerate oligonucleotide primers, listed below in IUPAC nomenclature, was designed to correspond to highly conserved sequences in the cytoplasmic domain of mouse N-, E-, and P-cadherins. Underlined sequences at the end of each oligonucleotide indicate an EcoR1 site added to the primers to facilitate cloning of the fragments generated by PCR.

A second pair of degenerate oligonucleotide primers, listed below in IUPAC nomenclature, was designed to correspond to moderately conserved sequences in the third subdomain of the extracellular domain of mouse N-, E-, and P-cadherins. The extracellular domains of the mouse N-, E- and P-cadherins have been characterized as having five internal subdomains, some of which may be involved in cadherin interaction with Ca2+. Underlined sequences at the end of each oligonucleotide indicate an EcoR1 site added to the primers to facilitate cloning of the fragments generated by PCR.

Degenerate Primer 3

K(P/G)(L/I/V)D(F/Y)E (SEQ ID NO: 5)

5' GAATTCAARSSNNTNGAYTWYGA 3' (SEQ ID NO: 6)

Degerenate Primer 4

(N/D)E(A/P)PXF (SEQ ID NO: 7)

3' TRCTYSGNGGNNNNAARCTTAAG 5' (SEQ ID NO: 8)

D. Cloning of cDNA Encoding Eight Novel Rat Cadherins

PCR amplification reactions of rat brain and retina cDNA were carried out either with degenerate primers 1 and 2 or with degenerate primers 3 and 4 under conditions essentially the same as those described in Saiki et al., Science, 239, 487-491 (1988). Briefly, 100 ng of brain or retina first strand cDNA was used as template for amplification by Taq DNA polymerase (international Bioltechnology, New Haven, Conn.) using 10 μg of each primer set per reaction. PCR reactions were initiated by adding 2 units of Taq DNA polymerase to the reaction solution, after which 35 PCR reaction cycles were carried out. Reaction cycles consisted of denaturation performed at 94° C. for 1.5 minutes, oligonucleotide annealing at 45° C. for 2 minutes, and elongation at 72° C. for 3 minutes. The resulting PCR fragments were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, and DNA bands of the expected size were extracted from the gel and digested with EcoR1. The fragments were then cloned into the M13 vector (Boehringer Mannheim Corp., Indianapolis, Ind.) and E. coli JM101 cells were transformed with the resulting constructs. Individual clones were then isolated and sequenced. Sequencing of the DNAs was carried out using a sequenase kit (United States Biochemicals, Cleveland, Ohio) and the resulting DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the clones were compared to sequences of known cadherins using the Microgenie program (Beckman, Fullerton, Calif.).

An additional novel cadherin was identified from the PCR reaction based on degenerate primers 3 and 4, and it was designated cadherin-13. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the rat cadherin-13 fragment are respectively set out in SEQ ID NOs: 25 and 26.

Larger cadherin-8 and -10 cDNAs were isolated from a rat brain cDNA library made in Uni-ZAP vector (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using labelled cadherin-8 extracellular domain PCR fragment (SEQ ID NO: 17) or cadherin-10 extracellular domain fragment (SEQ ID NO: 21) as probes. Two types of cadherin-8 cDNA clones were isolated. The first type encodes a full length cadherin, but the second type encodes a truncated protein the sequence of which diverges from the first type of cadherin-8 clone near the N-terminus of the fifth extracellular subdomain (EC5). The truncated clone contains a short stretch of unique sequence in the N-terminus of EC5 but lacks the remainder of EC5, the transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic domain. DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the full length clone are respectively set out in SEQ ID NOs: 41 and 42 and the DNA and deducted amino acid sequences of the truncated cadherin-8 clone are set out in SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 44. The cadherin-10 cDNA clone that was isolated has an open reading frame which begins at a region corresponding to the middle of the first extracellular domain (EC1) of previously identified cadherins. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of the cadherin-10 clone are set out in SEQ ID NOs: 45 and 46.

Probes for screening the human fetal brain and placental cDNA libraries were amplified by PCR from human brain cDNA (Dr. Taketani, Kansain Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan) using the primers described in Example 1B-C. Probes consisting of human cadherin-4, -5, -6, -8, -10 and -11 sequences were generated using degenerate primers 1 and 2 and probes consisting of human cadherin-13 sequence were generated using degenerate primers 3 and 4. Amplification of the human fetal brain cDNA with degenerate primers 3 and 4 also generated a PCR fragment encoding a cadherin not isolated from rat, designated cadherin-12.

PCR fragments encoding human cadherins-4, -5, -6, -8, -10, -11, -12 and -13 were labelled with 32 P and used to probe the human fetal brain and placental cDNA libraries according to the plaque hybridization method described in Ausubel et al., Eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Sections 6.1.1 to 6.1.4 and 6.2.1 to 6.2.3, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1987). Positives were plaque-purified and inserts were cut out using an in vivo excision method. The inserts were then subcloned into the M13 vector (Boehringer Mannheim) for sequencing.

Comparison of the full-length sequences of the novel human cadherins described in Examples 1 and 2 with sequences of previously described cadherins and cadherin-related proteins provides support for the proposal that cadherins can be divided into at least three subgroups based on amino acid sequence identity and/or domain structure. Identity values for one possible alignment of the sequences of the extracellular domains of selected human cadherins are presented in Table 1 below.

Based on such sequence alignments and on the fact that certain combinations of cadherin sequences seem to have conserved stretches of amino acids when aligned, one subgroup of cadherins may include E-cadherin, N-cadherin, P-cadherin and cadherin-4, while a second subgroup may include cadherin-5, cadherin-8, cadherin-11 and cadherin-12. Cadherins-6, -7, -9 and -10 may also be included with the second subgroup based on their partial amino acid sequences disclosed herein. The amino acid sequence of cadherin-4 exhibits especially high amino acid sequence identity with that of R-cadherin (92%), indicating that cadherin-4 may be the human homolog of chicken R-cadherin. All cadherins in these two subgroups have a similar structure. Following an initiation codon, each has a signal sequence, prosequence, proteolytic cleavage site of precursor protein, an extracellular domain (which comprises five subdomains EC1-5), a transmembrane sequence and a cytoplasmic domain. For cadherin-5, these sequences/domains appear to correspond to about the following amino acid positions of SEQ ID NO: 50: 1-24 (signal sequence), 25-43 (prosequence), 44-147 (EC1), 148-254 (EC2), 255-368 (EC3), 369-475 (EC4), 476-589 (EC5), 590-616 (transmembrane sequence) and 617-780 (cytoplasmic domain).

Cadherin-13, T-cadherin and V-cadherin may be representative of a third subgroup of cadherins. Cadherin-13 consists of a cadherin-like extracellular domain, but has no domains that would correspond to the typical transmembrane or cytoplasmic domains of other cadherins. Even though about 10% of the clones obtained by PCR using degenerate primers 3 and 4 were cadherin-13 clones, none of the clones included sequences corresponding to a cytoplasmic domain. An attempt to isolate a cDNA that contained this region by PCR using a primer corresponding to the most C-terminal region of cadherin-13 available and a mixed oligonucleotide primer corresponding to a well-conserved amino acid sequence of the cytoplasmic domain of cadherins failed to generate any product with the anticipated molecular weight. A similar protein, T-cadherin, has been identified in chicken which also lacks the typical cadherin cytoplasmic domain. The amino acid sequence identity between the two molecules is about 80%. Cadherin-13 may be the human homologue of chicken T-cadherin or may be a closely related molecule. Human cadherin-13 and avian T-cadherin may also both be closely related to V-cadherin. A 29-amino acid amino terminal sequence of bovine V-cadherin is similar to the start of the precursor region of cadherin-13 (93%) and T-cadherin (79%). V-cadherin is a 135 KD protein which appears to be restricted in tissue distribution to endothelium. In constrast, mature T-cadherin has a molecular weight of 95 KD and shows a wide tissue distribution. Both V-cadherin and T-cadherin are linked to the cell membrane through phosphoinositiol.

EXAMPLE 4

Polyclonal and/or monoclonal antibodies specific for cadherins of the invention were generated.

A. Generation of Polyclonal Antibodies

Bacterial fusion proteins consisting of maitose binding protein fused to portions of cadherin extracellular subdomains (either human cadherin-4, -5 or -11, or rat cadherin-8) were generated and subsequently used for the generation of polyclonal antibodies.

A cDNA fragment corresponding to a 40 KD portion of the extracellular domain of human cadherin-5 (nucleotides 535 to 1527 of SEQ ID NO: 49) was synthesized by PCR from the full-length human cadherin-5 cDNA described in Example 2. The fragment was subcloned into the multicloning site (EcoR1-XbaI) of the pMAL-RI plasmid vector [New England Biolabs Inc. (NEB), Beverly, Mass.]. The resulting construct encodes maltose binding protein fused to the extracellular domain of cadherin-5. Constructs encoding maltose binding protein fused to the three N-terminal subdomains of human cadherin-4, rat cadherin-8 and human cadherin-11 were generated by similar methods.

E. coli NM522 cells (Stratagene) were then transformed with one of the fusion protein constructs and grown in quantity. After disruption of E. coli cells, the individual fusion proteins were purified by affinity column chromatography using amylose resin (NEB) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. When subjected to SDS-PAGE, the purified fusion proteins each showed essentially one band of the expected size.

A total of five hundred μg of a fusion protein in Freund's complete adjuvant was injected into rabbits at four subcutaneous sites. Subsequent injections were carried out at three week intervals using 100 μg of the fusion protein in Freund's incomplete adjuvant also at four subcutaneous sites. The resulting polyclonal sera generated from immunization of rabbits with cadherin-4, -5 or -8 fusion protein were collected and tested for specificity on L cells transfected with the appropriate cadherin sequence (see Example 5). Polyclonal serum generated from immunization of rabbits with cadherin-11 was also collected.

Immunoblotting of various cell types showed that the The anti-cadherin-4 polyclonal serum reacts with protein of about 130 KD in cells transfected with full length cadherin-4 cDNA and in rat brain. Cadherin-5-specific serum reacts with a protein of about 135 KD in L cells transfected with a full length cadherin-5 DNA and with a protein of about 135 KD in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEcs). The serum does not react with MDCK cells that expressed high levels of E-cadherin. In bovine aortic endothelial cells, the anti-cadherin-5 serum reacts with a protein of about 120 KD. Additionally, the anti-cadherin-5 serum reacts with a protein which has the same molecular weight in rat brain endothelial cells in culture. The cadherin-8 polyclonal antibody detected a strong band of about 90 KD and a weak band of about 130 KD in rat brain.

B. Generation of Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Human Cadherin-5

Monoclonal antibodies to cadherin-5 were prepared using bacterial fusion proteins containing subdomains of the extracellular domain of human cadherin-5 as immunogens. The fusion proteins prepared included maltose binding protein and the extracellular subdomains 1-2 (EC1-2) or extracellular subdomains 2-4 (EC2-4) of cadherin-5 in the bacterial expression vector pMAL (NEB). The two fusion proteins were expressed in bacteria and purified on amylose-sepharose as described in foregoing section on generation of polyclonal antibodies. The purified fusion proteins were used separately to immunize mice at two subcutaneous sites (100 μg of fusion protein per mouse in Freund's complete adjuvant). The mice then were subcutaneously immunized with Freund's incomplete adjuvant.

The spleen from each mouse was removed sterility and treated in the same manner. Briefly, a single-cell suspension was formed by grinding the spleen between the frosted ends of two glass microscope slides submerged in serum free RPMI 1640 supplemented with 2 mM L-glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 mg/ml streptomycin (RPMI) (Gibco, Canada). The cell suspension was filtered through a sterile 70-mesh cell strainer, and washed twice by centrifuging at 200 g for 5 minutes and resuspending the pellet in 20 ml serum free RPMI. Thymocytes taken from 3 naive Balb/c mice were prepared in a similar manner. NS-1 myeloma cells, kept in log phase in RPMI with 11% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Hyclone Laboratories, Inc., Logan, Utah) for three days prior to fusion, were centrifuged at 200 g for 5 minutes, and the pellet was washed twice as described for the mouse spleen cells.

After washing, the spleen cells and myeloma cells were brought to a final volume of 10 ml in serum free RPMI, and 10 μl of that final volume was diluted 1:100 in serum free RPMI. Twenty μl of each dilution was removed, mixed with 20 μl 0.4% trypan blue stain in 0.85% saline, loaded onto a hemacytometer and counted. Two×108 spleen cells were combined with 4×107 NS-1 cells, centrifuged and the supernatant was aspirated. The cell pellets were dislodged by tapping the tube and 2 ml of 37° C. PEG 1500 (50% in 75 mM Hepes, pH 8.0) (Boehringer Mannheim) was added with stirring over the course of 1 minute, followed by adding 14 ml of serum free RPMI over 7 minutes. An additional 16 ml RPMI was added and the cells were centrifuged at 200 g for 10 minutes. After discarding the supernatant, the pellet was resuspended in 200 ml RPMI containing 15% FBS, 100 mM sodium hypoxanthine, 0.4 mM aminopterin, 16 mM thymidine (HAT) (Gibco), 25 units/ml IL-6 (Boehringer Mannheim) and 1.5×106 thymocytes/ml (plating medium). The suspension was dispensed into ten 96-well flat bottom tissue culture plates at 200 ml/well. Cells in plates were fed on days 2, 4, and 6 days post-fusion by aspirating approximately 100 ml from each well with an 18 G needle, and adding 100 ml/well plating medium described above except containing 10 units/ml IL-6 and lacking thymocytes.

Fusions 30 (from a mouse immunized with EC2-4) and 45 (from a mouse immunized with EC1-2) were screened initially by antibody capture ELISA, testing for presence of mouse IgG. Secondary screening of fusions 30 and 45 consisted of assays using plates coated with a monolayer of fixed endothelial cells for ELISAs. HUVEcs, Lewis rat brain endothelial cells (LeBCE), and bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAE) were allowed to grow in 96-well flat bottom tissue culture microtiter plates until the bottom of well was completely covered with a monolayer of cells. Plates were washed twice with 100 μl/well of Ca2+ /Mg2+ free PBS (CMF-PBS) and aspirated completely. Cells were then fixed with 100 μl/well of 3% p-Formaldehyde, 1% Sucrose in CMF-PBS PBS at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cells were then permeablized with approximately 250 μl/well of CSK buffer (0.5% Triton 100, 100 mM NaCl, 10 mM PIPES, 2 mM MgCl) and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. Plates were blocked with 250 μl/well of 2% BSA in 1X CMF-PBS (blocking solution) and incubated at 37° C. for 60 minutes. Blocking solution was aspirated and 50 to 100 μl/well of supernatant from fusion plates was added. Plates were incubated at room temperature for 60 minutes and then were washed one time with 250 μl/well of 0.5% BSA in CMF-PBS (wash solution 1) and two times with 250 μl/well of CMF-PBS (wash solution 2). One hundred fifty μl of horseradish peroxidase conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG(fc) (Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, Pa.) diluted 1:3500 in PBST was added and plates were incubated at room temperature for 60 minutes. Plates were washed as before and 150 μl substrate consisting of 1 mg/ml o-phenylene diamine (Sigma) and 0.1 ml/ml 30% H2 O2 in 100 mM Citrate, pH 4.5 was added. The color reaction was stopped after 30 minutes with the addition of 50 μl of 15% H2 SO4. A490 was read on a plate reader (Dynatech). About 20 positive wells were identified for each fusion and were subsequently cloned.

The hybridomas designated 30Q8A (ATCC HB11316), 30Q4H (ATCC HB11317), 45A5G (HB11318), 30S2F (HB11319), 45C6A (HB11320), 30T11G (ATCC HB11324), 30M8G, 3006E and 30R1A] were identified as reactive with endothelial cells and with the cadherin-5 EC2-4 fusion protein. The hybridomas were cloned twice by limiting dilution and grown in ascites. The monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridomas were isotyped in an ELISA assay. The results of the assay are presented in Table 2 below.

C. Subdomain Specificity of C5 Specific Monoclonal Antibodies

To determine if the hybridomas produced monoclonal antibodies reactive with unique epitopes of the extracellular domain of C5, the monoclonal antibodies were purified, biotinylated, and tested in a cross competition ELISA. Immulon IV 96-well plates were coated with either EC1-2 or EC2-4 cadherin-5 fusion protein at 0.2 μg/ml in 50 μl 50 mM NaCO3, pH 9.6 overnight at 4° C. The wells were aspirated and washed three times with PBS/0.05% Tween 20. The plate was then blocked with 50 μl/well PBS, 2% BSA (Sigma) for 30 minutes at 37° C. Monoclonal antibodies were purified from hybridoma supernatants over a protein A-Sepharose column and the eluted antibody was dialyzed against 0.1M NaCO3 pH 8.2. One mg/ml of antibody was reacted with 60 μl of a 1 mg/ml stock solution in DMSO of NHS-biotin (Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill.) for 1 hour at room temperature and the reaction was stopped by dialysis overnight at 4° C. against CMF/PBS. The biotinylated antibodies in PBS/0.05% Tween 20 were then added as primary antibody (50 μl/well) to a plate coated with fusion protein and incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C. The plate was then aspirated and washed three times with PBS/0.05% Tween 20. Peroxidase-conjugated strepavidin in PBS/Tween was added 50 μl/well and incubated for 30 minutes at 37° C. The plate was aspirated and washed three times in PBS/0.05% Tween 20, and o-phenylenediamine in 100 mM citrate buffer and hydrogen peroxide was added at 100 μl/well. The plate was developed at room temperature for 5-15 minutes. The reaction was stopped with 50 μl/well 15% sulfuric acid and the plate was read on a plate reader. Results of the assay are presented in Table 2 below.

To confirm subdomain specificity, the cadherin-5 fusion proteins EC1-2 and EC2-4 were run on SDS-PAGE (10%) and immunoblotted with the cadherin-5 specific monoclonal antibodies.

Table 2 below set outs the domain specificity and isotype of the cadherin-5 specific monoclonal antibodies.

Competition assays were carded out as described above for assays for binding to cadherin-5 EC2-4 fusion protein except that unlabelled primary cadherin-5 specific monoclonal antibodies (or mouse IgG) were added 30 minutes prior to addition of biotinylated cadherin-5 specific monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridomas 30M8G, 3006E and 30RIA compete for a site that is near or identical to the binding site of the antibody produced by hybridoma 30Q4H.

EXAMPLE 5

Human cadherins-4 and -5 and rat cadherin -8 were expressed in mouse fibroblast L cells (ATCC CCL1.3) which do not normally express cadherins.

A. Construction of Expression Vectors

The cDNA sequences encoding human cadherins-4 and -5 which are described in Example 2 and the cDNA sequence encoding rat cadherin-8 which is described in Example 1 were subcloned into the multicloning site of expression vector pRC/RSV (Invitrogen).

Cadherin-4 DNA sequences were isolated by an in vivo excision procedure from the λZapII clone (described in Example 2) containing the entire coding sequence of cadherin-4. Using a helper virus, the sequences were excised from λZapII in the form of Bluescript plasmid. The plasmid was then cut with HindIII and blunt-ended with T4 polymerase. The resulting DNA fragment was redigested with SpeI to generate a cadherin-4 cDNA fragment having a blunt end and a SpeI sticky end. The fragment was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis and subcloned into the pRC/RSV expression vector that had been previously digested with SpeI and XbaI (the XbaI end was blunt-ended with T4 polymerase).

The λgt11 clone containing the entire coding sequence of cadherin-5 (described in Example 2) was cut with EcoRI and the resulting fragment containing the cadherin-5 sequences was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis. The purified fragment was then subcloned into the EcoRI site of the Bluescript plasmid. Cadherin-5 sequences were cut from the resulting construct with HincII and XbaI and subcloned into the NotI-XbaI site of the pRC/RSV vector.

The full length cDNA encoding rat cadherin-8 was excised from the Uni-ZAP clone described in Example 1 by digestion with KpnI, followed by blunt-ending and re-digestion with SpeI. The cadherin-8 encoding fragment was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis and was subcloned into the pRC/RSV vector which had been digested with XbaI, blunt-ended and redigested with SpeI.

B. Transfection of L Cells

Mouse fibroblast L cells were transfected with the human cadherin- 4 and -5 and rat cadherin-8 expression constructs by a Ca2+ phosphate precipitation method and stable transfectants were obtained by G418 selection. Cadherin-4 and -8 transfectant cells showed a morphology similar to that of parental L cells (fibroblastic), but cadherin-5 transfectant cells exhibited a flattened morphology. Neuro 2a cells (ATCC CCL131) were also transfected by a Ca2+ phosphate precipitation procedure with the cadherin-4 and cadherin-8 expression constructs. Cadherin-4 transfectants showed epithelial structure, suggesting that cadherin-4 has activity in epithelial structure formation and may be involved in the neural tissue development.

C. Northern and Western Blot Assays of Cadherin mRNA and Protein Expression in Transfected Cells

Both cadherin-4, -5 and -8 transfectants showed mRNA of the expected size of 3.5 kb, 3.2 kb and 3 kb, respectively, in Northern blot analysis using the appropriate full length human cDNAs as a probe. (See Example 6A for a description of the Northern blot assay.)

For Western blots, cadherin-4, -5 and -8 transfectants were washed with PBS and SDS-PAGE sample buffer was added directly to the cells. SDS-PAGE (Laemmli) was carried out and and gels were blotted electrophoretically onto PVDF membrane. The membranes were incubated in TBS containing 5% skim milk for 2 hours at room temperature and then were incubated with the appropriate polyclonal antibody in TBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 for 1 hour at room temperature. After four washes (of 5 minutes each) with TBS containing 0.05% Tween 20, the membranes were incubated with alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-rabbit IgG antibody (Promega Corp., Madison, Wis.) in TBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 for 1 hour at room temperature. The membranes were then washed again four times with TBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 at room temperature and developed by using Promega Western blue. Cadherin-4, -5 and -8 polyclonal antibodies each reacted with a band of about 130 KD.

D. Calcium Protection from Trypsin Digestion

Since cadherins have been shown to be protected from trypsin digestion by Ca2+, the effect of Ca2+ on trypsin treatment (0.01% soybean trypsin for 30 minutes at 37° C.) of human cadherin-4 and -5 and rat cadherin-8 expressed on the surface of transfected L cells was examined. Two mM Ca2+ protected the cadherin-4 from the trypsin digestion, but cadherin-5 and cadherin-8 were digested easily even in the presence of 1-5 mM of Ca2+.

E. Cell-Cell Adhesion Assay

The cell-cell adhesion activity of the transfected cells was assayed by a re-aggregation assay as described in Yoshida-Noro et al., Devel. Biol., 101, 19-27 (1984). Briefly, transfectants were grown to near confluency and then dispersed into single cells with mild trypsin treatment (0.01% for 15 minutes) in the presence of 2 mM Ca2+. After washing, the trypsinized cells were incubated in Hepes buffered saline (HBS) containing 2 mM CaCl2, 1% BSA and 20 μg/ml deoxynuclease on a rotary shaker at 50 rpm for 30 to 60 minutes and then cell aggregation was monitored. Cadherin-4 transfectant cells aggregated within 30 minutes and formed relatively large aggregates, whereas cadherin-5 transfectant cells did not aggregate under the same conditions. However, cadherin-5 transfectants gradually re-aggregated and formed relatively small aggregate after prolonged incubation (4-5 hours or more). Similarly, cadherin-8 transfectants did not show significant cell adhesion activity. Parental L cells did not show cell adhesion under the same conditions. The sensitivity of cadherin-5 and cadherin-8 to trypsin digestion may account for the reduced cell adhesion seen in the reaggregation assay because the transfected L cells are initially dispersed with trypsin in the assay.

EXAMPLE 6

The expression of mRNAs encoding cadherins of the invention was examined in rat brain, kidney, liver, lung and skin and in various human cells by Northern blot analysis. The expression of cadherin protein was also examined in endothelial cells and leukocytes by immunofluorescence or immunoblotting.

A. Northern Blot Assays of Rat Tissue and Human Cells

Poly(A)+ RNA from rat brain, kidney, liver, lung and skin was prepared as described in Example 1 for rat brain. The RNA preparations were then electrophoresed in an 0.8% agarose gel under denaturing conditions and transferred onto a nitrocellulose filter. Northern blot analyses were carried out according to a method described in Thomas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77, 5201-5202 (1980). Filters were hybridized with rat cadherin PCR fragments (described in Example 1) labeled with 32 P, including fragments corresponding to cadherins-4 through -11. The final hybridization wash was in 0.2× standard saline citrate containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 65° C. for 10 minutes.

Cadherin-4 and cadherin-8 through -10 mRNAs were detected only in rat brain. The cadherin-8 PCR fragment hybridized to a major band of about 3.5 kb and a minor band of about 4.5 kb in rat brain. The mRNAs detected may be alternative splicing products and may correspond to the truncated and full length cadherin-8 clones described in Example 1. Cadherin-6 and -7 probes gave weak signals on rat brain mRNA even after prolonged exposure. Cadherins-5, -6 and -11 mRNAs were detected in rat brain and other rat tissues including cadherin-5 mRNA in lung and kidney, cadherin-6 mRNA in kidney, and cadherin- 11 mRNA in liver.

The expression of cadherin-8 and -11 in cultured human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells (ATCC HTB11), U251MG glioma cells and Y79 retinoblastoma cells (ATCC HTB18) was also assayed by Northern blot. Human cDNAs encoding cadherins-8 and -11 (described in Example 2) were labelled with 32 P and used as probes of poly(A)+ RNA prepared from the cells using an Invitrogen FastTrack kit.

The Northern blot procedure detected cadherin-8 RNA in the neuroblastoma and retinoblastoma cell lines, while cadherin-11 RNA was detected only in neuroblastoma cells. These results indicate that at least some of the cadherins of the invention are expressed in neurons and glial cells and/or their precursor cells.

B. Immunoflourescence of Endothelial Cells and Immunoblotting of Leukocytes

Cultured endothelial cells isolated from bovine aorta, bovine brain microvasculature and human umbilical vein were subjected to immunofluorescence microscopy using anti-C5 polyclonal antibodies. Cadherin-5 protein at the cell junctions which was in close association with the peripheral actin microfilaments was labelled.

In contrast, when freshly isolated leukocytes (human PMN, lymphocytes and monocytes) or the monocyte-like cell line U937 were analyzed for the expression of cadherin-5 by immunoblotting using polyclonal antibodies and a monoclonal antibody (3006E) to cadherin-5, no cadherin-5 was detected. Furthermore, using a pan-cadherin antibody [Geiger et al., J. Cell Science, 97: 607-614 (1990)] specific for the cytoplasmic tail, no other cadherins were detected in these cell populations.

EXAMPLE 7

Three in vitro transendothelial migration assays were utilized to show that cadherin-5 may participate in the movement of leukocytes across the intercellular junctions of endothelium.

A. Transmigration Assays

The migration of leukocytes (either human polymorphonuclear neutrophils or rat T cells) was followed for specific periods of time (15 minutes for PMNs and 2 hours for T cells). Immunofluorescent labeling of leukocytes using antibodies to specific cellular markers was used distinguish between leukocytes and endothelium. The polyclonal antibodies described in Example 4 were used to measure changes in the distribution of cadherin-5. An antibody (Novocastra Laboratories Ltd., United Kingdom) to PE-CAM1 (CD31) which is an intercellular junction molecule in endothelium was used as a control.

The role of cadherin-5 in the transmigration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) across HUVEcs was analyzed. The system utilized, which is described in Furie et at., J. Immunol., 143: 3309-3317 (1989), has been characterized with regard to electrical resistance of the endothelium and the adhesion molecules used in transmigration. HUVEcs were isolated in the absence of growth factor and cultured on human amniotic connective tissue in a two-chamber system. PMN migration on IL1β-treated HUVEcs has previously been shown to involve E-selectin and β2 integrins (CD11/CD18). See Furie et al., J. Immunol., 148: 2395-2484 (1992).

In the first assay, transmigration of PMNs was followed as an 11 minute time course on HUVEcs pretreated for four hours with IL1β (1.5 U/ml) (Collaborative Research Inc., Beford, Mass.). Prior to addition of neutrophils, antibodies to cadherin-5 heavily labelled the cell junctions of the HUVEcs in a continuous pattern. Pretreatment of the endothelial monolayer with IL1β had no effect on the distribution of cadherin-5 in the HUVEc monolayer compared to a control untreated culture. In the second assay, chemotaxis of PMNs across HUVEcs was stimulated by leukotriene B4 (LTB4) (Sigma) which was placed in the bottom chamber at 10-7 M while neutrophils were added to the upper chamber. Chemotaxis of PMNs to LTB4 across the endothelial monolayer was previously shown to be blocked by antibodies to CD11a, CD11b and ICAM-1. [See Furie et al, Blood, 78: 2089-2097 (1991)] In both assays, PMNs were identified with anti-CD45 antibody (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, Calif.).

In both assays during the 11-minute time course, the majority of the PMNs that adhered also transmigrated. Addition of neutrophils caused a rapid redistribution and regional loss of cadherin-5 even at the earliest time point (3 minutes). CD31 was also lost at sites of disruption of the monolayer, but in general appeared to be more stable during the transmigration process. The loss of cadherin-5 is probably the result of proteases released from the neutrophils during transmigration.

In a third assay, CD4 antigen activated rat T cells were utilized instead of PMNs (for a two-hour time course). Rat brain microvascular endothelium was grown on Transwell 5 micron polycarbonate membranes (Costar, Cambridge, Mass.). T cells were identified using an anti-CD4 antibody (Serotec, Indianapolis, Ind.). In this assay, the loss of cadherin-5 immunolabeling did not occur during transendothelial migration even though 10% of the T cells had crossed the endothelium after two hours. These results demonstrate differential effects of PMN versus T cells on intercellular junctions during tranendothelial migration. Analysis by confocal microscopy suggests that CD4 antigen-activated T cells and PMNs have a ligand that is able to interact with cadherin-5 on the endothelium during transmigration. Photomicrographs from confocal analysis show that during leukocyte transendothelial migration leukocytes can be found spanning the intercellular junction. The leukocyte separates the cell junction and cadherin-5 remains on adjacent cells even though the endothelial cells are not in contact.

B. Adhesion of PMNs and T Cells to Cadherin-5

To quantitate the binding of PMNs and activated T-cells to cadherin-5, a cell-substrate adhesion assay was developed. This assay utilized plate-bound fusion proteins containing various extracellular subdomains of cadherin-5 (EC 1-2 or EC2-4, see Example 4) and measured the binding of dye-labelled leukocytes to cadherin-5 protein using a cytofluor 2300 (Millipore, Bedford, Mass.).

The purified fusion proteins were absorbed to styrene plates and the binding of dye-labeled leukocytes to the fusion proteins was compared to binding to maltose binding protein and heat denatured bovine serum albumin (BSA) which was used to block nonspecific binding. The fusion proteins were dissolved in PBS containing Ca2+ and Mg2+, diluted into coating buffer and incubated overnight at 4° C. The plates were blocked with heat denatured BSA and then incubated with calcien (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.)-labelled cells for 1 hour at 37° C. Results of the assay are presented in FIGURE 1 wherein the relative fluorescence values reported are the mean value of three samples.

PMNs bound to fusion proteins comprising the EC2-4 of cadherin-5, but preferentially bound to fusion proteins comprising EC1-2. These results are consistent with presence of cadherin subdomain 2 sequences in both fusion proteins. CD4 antigen activated T cells bound EC2-4 fusion protein. All these results, which indicate that PMNs interact with a more terminal or exposed subdomain of cadherin-5, are consistent with the rate that these cell types cross the endothelium, PMNs transmigrate in a few minutes and T cells require 30-60 minutes. The binding of U937 cells could be blocked in a dose dependent manner by polyclonal antisera made to the cadherin-5 EC2-4 subdomains.

The results presented in the foregoing paragraph in combination with the results presented in Example 6B that leukocytes do not express cadherins suggests that the counter ligand to which cadherin-5 binds on leukocytes is a distantly related cadherin or is not a cadherin. Cadherin binding has previously been thought to be homotypic.

EXAMPLE 8

Expression of cadherin-5 in the blood-brain barrier in the endothelium of the cerebral cortex was assayed by Western blot and immunocytochemistry.

A SDS lysate was prepared by boiling bovine or macaque capillaries in SDS sample buffer for 2 minutes and then drawing the extract through a 25 G syringe needle. The extract was centrifuged in a microfuge for 15 minutes at 4° C. Protein concentration in the supernatant was determined by the BCA method (Pierce) using bovine serum albumin as a standard. Samples of the supernatent (75 μg) were separated by SDS-PAGE (Laemmli) and electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose was blocked with 5% milk and 10% FBS in Tris-buffered saline, pH 8.0, containing 0.05% Tween 20. Cadherin-5 specific monoclonal antibodies (30Q4H and 45C6A) were added. After washing to remove unbound antibody, the filters were incubated with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-mouse IgG (Promega, Madison, Wis.). Reactive bands were visualized by addition of NBT/BCIP (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.). Expression of cadherin-5 was detected in the freshly isolated bovine and macaque capillaries.

The Western blot results were confirmed by immunocytochemistry using the cadherin-5 antibodies 30Q4H and 45C6A. Macaque cerebral cortex was incubated in 15% sucrose in PBS for 30 minutes at 4° C. and embedded in OCT compound Crissue-Tek, Elkhart, Ind.) in cryomolds and quickly frozen. Six micron sections were cut and placed on glass slides. The slides were washed with PBS and fixed in 3% p-formaldehyde for 5 minutes. To permeabilize the tissue sections the slides were immersed in -20° C. acetone for 10 minutes and air dried. The sections were blocked with 2% goat serum and 1% BSA in PBS for 30 minutes and then incubated with the primary antisera for 1 hour at room temperature. The sections were rinsed 3 times in PBS containing 0.1% BSA and incubated with biotinylated anti-rabbit or anti-mouse IgG (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, Calif.) in 1% BSA in PBS for 30 minutes. After rinsing 3 times, strepavidin-conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (Vector Laboratories) was added for 30 minutes and washed 3 times. Immunolabeling was detected by reaction with diaminobenzoic acid in the presence of NiCl2. The monoclonal antibody 45C6A only appeared to label larger vessels and the monoclonal antibody 30Q4H labeled both large and microvessels. The cell junctions of cerebral capillaries were labelled with the anti-cadherin-5 antibodies in a localized site.

These results and the results presented in Example 7 suggest cadherin-5 is involved in maintenance of the blood-brain barrier and that cadherin-5 peptides or cadherin-5 specific monoclonal antibodies may be able to open the blood-brain barrier.

Permeability was measured using a two-chamber culture system (Costar). Rat brain microvascular endothelium was grown on 12 mm Transwell filters with 3 micron pores (Costar) in the culture system. When the monolayers were confluent, two weeks after plating, 3 H-inulin (201 mCi/g) (New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.) was added to the upper chamber. Cadherin-5 peptide at 100 μg/ml was added to both the upper and lower chambers. Radioactivity appearing in the bottom chamber was measured at 15 minute intervals over a two hour time course carried out at 37° C. and was compared to the radioactivity appearing in the bottom chamber of cultures where no peptide was added or where no endothelial cells were present.

Both peptides 1 and 3 increased endothelium permeability in comparison to control cultures. The increase in permeability obtained with peptide 3 was 2.5-fold and the increase with peptide 1 was 1.5-fold over the controls. Peptide 2 had no effect on permeability.

EXAMPLE 10

The functional properties of cadherins involve not only specific intercellular interactions, but also involve intracellular interactions with the cytoskeleton. Immunoprecipitation experiments utilizing the cadherin-5-specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies and the monoclonal antibody 30Q8A (see Example 4) were performed to determine with which proteins cadherin-5 interacts on an intracellular level.

Endothelial cells were metabolically labeled overnight with 50 μCi/ml of [35 S]-methionine and were then extracted with 0.5% Triton X-100 in 10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 0.15M NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 2 mM EGTA, 1 mM phenanthroline and protease inhibitors. The inhibitors included 1 mM PMSF, 10 μg/ml aprotinin, leupeptin, pepstatin A, antipain, soybean trypsin inhibitor, 100 μg/ml chymostatin and TPCK, 40 μg/ml of TPCK and bestatin, 50 μg/ml of benzamidine, 1 mM o-vanidate and 20 mM NaF. After 20 minutes on ice, the cells were scraped and centrifuged in a microfuge for 30 minutes at 4° C. The supernatant was precleared and either polyclonal anti-cadherin-5 or normal rabbit serum was added and incubated overnight at 4° C. Protein A-sepharose (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) was added for 2 hours at 4° C. and centrifuged. A first low stringency wash with 10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 0.15M NaCl, 2 mM EDTA and 2 mM EGTA containing 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% DOC and 0.2% SDS was performed. A second high stringency wash was performed with the same buffer containing 2% SDS. A final wash was then performed with Tris-buffered saline, and the samples were boiled and analyzed on SDS/PAGE (7%). Three bands with molecular weights of 104 KD, 95 KD, and 82 KD were identified as associated with cadherin-5.

Three intracellular proteins, termed catenins, have previously been identified by their ability to bind to the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin. These proteins have been designated α, β, and γ catenins and have molecular weights of 102 KD, 88 KD and 80 KD, respectively [Ozawa et al., EMBO J. 8:1711-1717 (1989)]. The association of catenins with E-cadherin seem to be required for E-cadherin function because deletion of the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin results in loss of cell adhesion function and catenin binding. The molecular cloning of α-catenin has shown it to be a vinculin-like protein [Nagafuki et al., Cell, 65: 849-857 (1991); Herrenkenecht et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 9156-9160 (1991)]. The amino acid sequence of the Xenopus β-catenin [McCrea et al., Science, 254: 1359-1361 (1991)] exhibits 63% similarity to the human protein plakoglobin [Franke et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86: 4027-4031 (1989)]. Plakoglobin has been localized to both the cytoplasmic region of desmosome and adherens junctions in epithelial cells. The desmonsomal component desmoglein I interacts with plakoglobin and is a member of the cadherin superfamily [Koch et al., Eur. J. Cell. Biol., 53: 1-12 (1990)]. Plakoglobin has a molecular weight of 82 KD and may be the γ-catenin [Peifer et al, J. Cell Biol., 118: 681-691 (1992)]. Even though endothelial cells lack desmosome, they have been shown to contain plakoglobin-associated with intercellular junctions [Franke et al., Biol. of the Cell, 59: 205-218 (1987)]. Other cytoskeletal elements associated with cadherins are ankyrin and fodrin [Nelson et al., J. Cell Biol., 110: 349-357 (1990)].

To identify whether plakoglobin was one of the proteins complexed to cadherin-5, an unlabeled lysate of bovine aortic endothelial cells was made and immunoprecipitation was carried out as described above using anti-cadherin-5 antibody. The unlabelled immunoprecipitates were separated by SDS/PAGE and then electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose. The membrane was blocked with 5% milk in Tris-buffered saline, pH 8.0, containing 0.05% Tween 20 (TBST) and then was incubated with the murine monoclonal antibody PG5.1 (IBI Research Products, Cambridge, Mass.) to plakoglobin in blocking solution (1:20) for 1 hour at room temperature. The membrane was washed with TBST and then incubated with goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. An 82 KD protein was identified using NBT/BCIP under both low and high stringency wash conditions. These results demonstrate that plakoglobin is tightly associated with the cytoplasmic domain of cadherin-5 in endothelium. Immunofluorescence studies of regenerated endothelium show that cadherin-5 and plakoglobin are localized to the cell junctions and are coordinately regulated.

The interation of cadherin-5 with plakoglobin may be a target for modulation of cadherin-5 activity.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, only such limitations as appear in the appended claims should be placed on the scope of the invention.

Contacting a neuron with a cell adhesion modulating peptide that comprises a cyclic peptide in which nonadjacent amino acid residues are covalently linked to form a peptide ring comprising sequence his-ala-val within cyclic peptide ring

Modulating agents comprise one or more of a peptide sequence that is at least 50% identical to a desmosomal cadherin CAR sequence; a non-peptide mimetic of a desmosomal cadherin CAR sequence; a substance, such as an antibody or antigen binding